In order for higher education students in Missouri to get the most out of their classroom experience for the least amount of debt and to maximize opportunities to find jobs, the General Assembly passed several measures designed to benefit those seeking to further their education. One of these bills, Senate Bill 381, received the governor’s signature in a public ceremony at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg a few weeks ago.

This week, the president of the United States visited the University of Central Missouri campus as one of the first schools in the country originally involved with the Innovation Campus concept. It was certainly an honor for UCM to be recognized for the efforts put forth to not only save students money, but to provide well-trained employees for high-demand jobs faster than schools not participating in this program.

The Innovation Education Campus initiative will create partnerships between local school districts and higher education institutions, in conjunction with local technology-based businesses creating accelerated programs. Some areas in the state have already implemented this concept, proving that this initiative really works.

The basic idea of an innovation education campus is that high school students interested in a future in the world of high-tech jobs will have the chance to take classes geared toward that goal. By taking college credit courses and participating in internships while still in high school, the time it would take to obtain a college degree will be reduced from a typical eight years to six, and eliminate two years of college debt.

As chairman of the Senate Education Committee, I remain dedicated to both students and the institutions they attend. My colleagues and I are researching methods to get students to the end goal of degree completion and graduation in a timely fashion, saving students from higher debt and preparing them for entry into a competitive international job market. We are also looking into better ways to fund the institutions themselves, so that they can continue improving in order to provide the education that our students need for better futures.

With the 2014 legislative session on the horizon, I am hopeful that these goals will be supported and finalized, bringing brighter tomorrows for all Missourians.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.